Oarlock



April 27, 1954 R. H. TONTRUP OARI ..OCK

Filed June 4, 1952 INVENTOR.

Rosem- H. TONTRUP BY Patented Apr. 27, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OARLOCK Robert H, Tontrup, St. Louis, Mo. Application June 4, 1952, Serial No. 291,603

' 6 Claims. (01. 94s) This invention relates in general to certain new and useful improvements in oarlocks and, more particularly, to an oarlock adapted to be used for supporting a paddle or oar 'on one or'both sides of asmall canoe or rowboat used by one person forfishing in relatively quiet water, so. that the paddle maybe operated by one hand to move the boat while the other hand is occupied in casting or trolling.

It is the primary object of thepresent inventionto provide a'demountable oarlock which will support a paddleor oar in a freely hinged outboard manner over the gunwale of a canoe or boat, so i that the paddle may be rotated or swung to-and-froby one hand while the user is fishing or trolling with the other hand.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an oarlock of the type stated in which the supported oar or paddle is free to move in any direction and can be operated-at any angle with respect to thecanoe or boat being propelled.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an oarlock of the type statedin which the outboard angle at which the car or padldle is positioned ments of the user and can be readily removed and disconnected from the oar or paddle whenever not in use.

It is another object of "the present invention to provide an oarlock which is releasably engaged with the oar paddle in such a manner that the paddle cannot he accidentally lost, but is nevertheless capable of being shifted up-and down or pivoted about either or both of two horizontal axes located approximately in the same plane.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention residesin the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawinga Figure 1 is a top plan view of an oarlock constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 22 of Figure 1; and

Figures 3 and 4 are transverse sectional views taken along lines 3-3 and 4-4, respectively, of Figure 2. 7

Referring now in more detail and-by reference character to the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention, A designates an oarlock comprising two substantially rectangular clamping plates I, 2, which are respectively," deflected or bent inwardly at their lower ends to provide retaining lips 3, 4, respectively. At its upper end the plate 2 is can be adjusted to suit the require- -integral collar 5, which,

I minal portion II, the longitudinal axis of which is disposed at an angle of between and less rotatably and slidably of the sleeve I1 and yet be centrally provided with an outwardly extending in common with the plate 2, is bored for slidably accommodating the threaded shank 6 of a clamping screw 1, which extends therethrough and is provided at its rearward end witha wing nut 8. At its forward end, the threaded shank 6 extends threadedly through the upper central portion of the plate I and is externally provided with a locking nut 9. Forwardly of the locking nut 9 the screw 1 is bent, as at II), to provide an externally threaded terwith respect to the longitudinal axis of the shank 6. Freely or rotatably threaded upon the terminal portion II of the clamping screw I, in the manner of a swivel, is a clevis I2 having a central bight portion I3 and two outwardly extending spaced parallel legs I 4, I5, rigidly provided adjacent their outer ends with inwardly extending co.axial swivel pins I6.

Provided for rocking disposition between the clevis arms I5, I6, is a two-part tubular sleeve I I consisting of two identical semi-cylindrical sleeve-forming elements I8 provided along their longitudinal margins with outwardly extending radial flanges I9 bored with assemblies 2| by which the semi-cylindrical elements I8 are releasably joined together. The flanges I9, furthermore, are upset transversely in the provision of matching substantially semibearings for swivellingengagement with the pins I6. It will be noted by reference to Figure 2 that the channels 22 are located somewhat more closely to one end of the sleeve I1 other, so that when the sleeve I1 is disposed between the clevis arms I4, I5, it will tend to hang freely of its own weight in a downwardly disposed direction in the manner shown, but will nevertheless swing freely to-and-fro. Loosely mounted within the sleeve I I is an oar or paddle 23, which is provided with a diametrical bolt 24 adapted for supporting a pair of external rollers 25 which bear against the upwardly presented edge of the sleeve I! in the manner shown in Figure 2. The oar or paddle 23 is of such di-' ametral size that it will fit snugly, but neverthewithin the sleeve I'l. Thus, the user can allow the weight of the car or paddle 23 to be supported primarily by engagement between the rollers 25 able to rotate the a plurality of match- -ing apertures 20 for receiving short nut-and-bolt than to the and the upper end a paddle about its longitudinal axis by simple wrist movement and, at the same time, swing the paddle inwardly and outwardly about the pin 16 and rockingly to-and-fro about the axis of the terminal portion H, thereby achieving virtually universal movement of the paddle or oar 23, while the weight thereof is almost entirely supported by the sleeve l1 and the other parts of the oarlock A.

In use, the clamping plates 1, 2, are fitted over the gunwale G of the boat and the nut 9 and win nut 8 adjusted for tight clamping engagement therewith. The elements 18 are taken apart by removal of the nut-and-bolt assembly 2| and clamped together again around the oar or paddle 23 in such a manner as to engage the pins 18. If desired, the assembly of the oar or paddle 23 within the sleeve 11 may be accomplished before the oarlock A is clamped to the gunwale G. if that procedure is more convenient for the user. In either case, when thus installed upon the gunwale G, the user may scull or paddle with complete ease and facility by the use of one hand while fishing with the other. When fishing is concluded, the sleeve 11 may be taken apart so that the oar or paddle 23 can be removed for compact transportation or storage.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the oarlock may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An oarlock comprising a clamp adapted to be adjustably and releasably secured upon the gunwale of a boat, said clamp including a pair of plates, a clamp screw extending substantially horizontally through and outwardly from the clamp plates when the latter are in operative position on the gunwale of a boat, said screw being provided at its outer end with an angularly offset portion, a clevis swivelly mounted on and extending outwardly from the offset portion and being adapted for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the offset portion, and an oar retaining sleeve rockably mounted within the clevis.

2. An oarlock comprising a pair of plates adapted to be adiustably and releasably secured upon the gunwale of a boat, a clamping screw slidably mounted in and extending through one of the plates and threadedly through the other plate, a nut threadedly mounted on the screw in operative bearing engagement against the slidably mounted plate for urging such plate clampwise toward the'threadedly mounted plate, said screw being provided at its outer, end with an angularly offset portion, a clevis swivelly mounted on and extending outwardly from the offset portion, and an oar retaining sleeve rockably mounted within the clevis.

8. An oarlock comprising a pair of plates adapted to be adjustably and releasably secured upon the gunwale of a boat, a clamping screw slidably mounted in and extending through one of the plates and threadedly through the other plate, a nut threadedly mounted on the screw in operative bearing engagement against the slidably mounted plate for urging such plate clampwise toward the threadedly mounted plate, said screw being provided at its outer end with an angularly offset portion, a. clevis swivelly mountbe adjustably ed on and extending outwardly from the offset portion and being adapted for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the offset portion, and an oar retaining sleeve rockably mounted within the clevis.

4. An oarlock comprising a pair of plates adapted to be adjustably and releasably secured upon the gunwale of a boat, a clamping screw slidably mounted in and extending through one of the plates and threadedly through the other plate, a nut threadedly mounted on the screw in operative bearing engagement against the slidably mounted plate for urging such plate clampwise toward the threadedly mounted plate, said screw being provided at its outer end with an angularly offset portion, a clevis swivelly mounted on and extending outwardly from the ofiset portion and being adapted for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the ofiset portion, and an oar retaining sleeve rockably mounted within the clevis about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the offset portion.

5. An oarlock comprising a clamp adapted to be adjustably and releasably secured upon the gunwale of a boat, said clamp including a pair of plates, a clamp screw extending substantially horizontally through and outwardly from the clamp plates when the latter are in operative position on the gunwale of a boat, said screw being provided at its outer end with an angularly ofiset portion, a clevis swivelly mounted on and extending outwardly from the offset portion and being adapted for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the offset portion, said clevis having spaced parallel arms having opposed faces, a pair of co-axial pins mounted upon and extending inwardly from the opposed faces of the arms in aligned relation across the clevis, and an oar retaining sleeve rockably mounted upon the pins for rocking movement within the clevis.

6. A11 oarlock comprising a clamp adapted to and releasably secured upon the gunwale of a boat, said clamp including a pair of plates, a clamp screw extending substantially horizontally through and outwardly from the clamp plates when the latter are in operative position on the gunwale of a boat, said screw being provided at its outer end with an angularly ofiset portion, a clevis swivelly mounted on and extending outwardly from the offset portion and being adapted for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the offset portion, said clevis having spaced parallel arms, a pair of co-axial pins mounted in the arms in facing relation across the clevis, and an oar retaining sleeve rockably mounted upon the pins for rocking movement within the clevis, said sleeve being formed of two semi-cylindrical members releasably secured together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

